Sad Goodbyes

I enjoy the time I spend with Veda, and I think she does too. Her big toothless grin and bobbing head assure me that she loves me. She leaps into my arms ( and leaps out too her dad too) and buries her face in my neck or chest. "Oh yes !!!!" I tell myself, this little person definitely loves me and wants to be with me :).

Luckily or unluckily Veda is rather social, she is happy at daycare, she doesn't cry when I drop her off at daycare, or when she meets our friends, or random strangers at the mall. She coos and talks to everyone, reserving the hugging and cuddling for mom and dad only!

I feel great when Veda clings on to me. Her clinging on to me is a classic excuse to sit and play with her and not do any of the chores. At twenty six weeks Veda has begun to cry a teeny tiny bit when I leave her alone. I saw this as an indicator that she needs me and/or likes me more than everyone else. I thought this was because of all the fun stuff we do together.... but I get this baby e-mail two days after Veda cries indicating that this behavior is a developmental milestone that kids get at 28 weeks.
"Your baby is becoming aware of comings and goings of the people he loves, and who is familiar and who is not. Along with becoming uncomfortable with strangers, he is likely to develop some distress related to separations from you with increasing intensity over the next couple of months. Expect that necessary separations when you leave him at childcare or with a sitter may make him unhappy during this phase of development. Alert friends and family (especially grandparents) that your baby is in a stage of development that may require them to interact with him more gradually than before. They shouldn't feel hurt if he refuses to be held by anyone except Mom, your partner, or his regular babysitter for a while. This stage of development, like all others, will pass."